I love Abhishek to death: John Abraham

John Abraham talks about his physique & remedy for homesickness after 3 months of shooting in Philadelphia for New York. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the film is called New York and you're why were you shooting it in Philadelphia? Because the topography is similar. A lot of films located in New York are actually shot in Philadelphia. I was shooting for three long months and if it wasn't for my parents, brother and sister-in-law and Bipasha visiting, I'd have gone crazy. When they all came to see me, I stopped feeling homesick. I was away for so long, sometimes when I woke up, I forgot where I was. Before Philadelphia I was in Miami shooting for Dostana for three months. Homesick? I love Phili. The hotel had become a home. Now I go to Boston for Abbas Tyrewala's film where star with Abbas' wife Pakhi. She's perfect for the part. When I'm away, what I miss most is the ghar ka khana. My parents had come over. But I wouldn't let my mom cook here. No way. I pampered her. Looked after her like a little baby. That's what one is supposed to do with one's parents especially when they get old, no? They need clean healthy air. I think I'll take them to Boston too. Dad is an architect so he loves to check out the buildings and architecture. But before Boston, I come back to Mumbai to do a film called Hook Ya Crook with David Dhawan written by Rensil D'Silva. It's not a typical David Dhawan comedy. We're both excited like two children. You're a good son. I'd really want to believe I'm a good son. How was the shooting in Philadelphia? Gruelling but very satisfying. I shot the most emotionally and physically exhausting scenes of my life. Frankly, I haven't done an action film since Dhoom. It's a genre I really enjoy. This film New York that I'm doing has very effective action. I not only had a lot of running around to do. But I enjoyed myself. At this point of my career I just want to push myself beyond the limits. By wearing the briefest and briefs and giving an interview on why you wore it? Oh that was an endorsement for Dostana. And besides I'm never ashamed of talking about my body. Though at times I do feel like a meat shop. So why go on and on about your body? I am proud of my physique. But I feel I'm also good with emotions. In fact I perform the best when I'm unhappy. I function best when in angst. New York is your second film with Kabir Khan? I loved doing Kabul Express with Kabir. I loved shooting in Afghanistan right in the midst of Taliban. Now I'd love to shoot in Iraq. I'm a sucker for pain and agony. I'd love to shoot in Iran. My grandfather was from Iran. My mother's cousins are in Iran. You collaborate well with your directors these days? Yes, I'm equally at home with someone as commercial as David Dhawan and as niche as Nagesh Kukunoor. I believe as much in my directors as they believe in me. You may be right when you say I was the outsider when I did Dostana with Karan Johar. But it took me no time to settle in. Karan is a fair person. As for Abhishek, he's no co-star or colleague. He's a friend. I dote on him. I love him to death. We never compete. We complement each other in Dostana. We share a great chemistry. Abhishek and I are a couple in the film. Yes, so we've been told. Let me ask you a 'straight' question. Do you think Indian audiences are ready for gay jokes? I'll give you a 'straight' answer. People laughed at the Kantaben track in Kal Ho Naa Ho. It was very essential for us in Dostana to not take advantage of a certain sensibility and project that as a caricutural as a joke. We've succeeded in doing that in Dostana. Happy to be a gay icon? I've been told that. And I accept it very graciously. But women have reacted as strongly to me in Dostana as men. Some have reacted to the sensuality others to the fitness. But everyone has a query about my body. Sometime I feel I belong to a meat shop. I really am not comfortable talking constantly about my anatomy. Very often I don't know how to react. Initially it was fun to be regarded as a body-beautiful. I wonder how audiences will react to my physicality in my next release Aashayein where I've lost 30 pounds. No stripping in that? None whatsoever. Not that I believe that if you show your body you can't act properly. I really like fielding questions on food, diet and other clichés on health. I always advise people to be clean in body, mind and environment. Neil Nitin Mukesh who's shooting with you in Philadelphia has great respect for you? He's like my younger brother. I love him for the fact that he dotes on his parents. He's a wonderful kid with a great future. He's a simple and clean. We spend a lot of time together. Out there you've no choice. You have a point. Deepa Mehta's Luna with Rachel Weisz is off. So I got to know from your article. Deepa and I haven't spoken about it. As for Kamagatamaru I'd still be willing to play the other lead because it's as important as Akshay Kumar's role. It's always a pleasure working with Akshay. I'm very happy for him. He's a very positive person. We get along beautifully. Why the delay in the release of Aashayein? I think some negotiations are going on. Percept has now decided to release it around December. Aashayein is a beautiful film and Nagesh is great storyteller. What else have you signed? Only Abbas Tyrewala's film. Beyond that I haven't really opened my accounts book, I'm happy doing films I'm completely convinced about. I'd love to work with Anurag Kashyap again. I can talk to him for hours. Like me, he's happy doing his own thing. I'm an off-roader while other actors are on the highway. Do you miss home when you're away? I miss the people though not the city. I'm happy wherever I am as long as my work goes well. But I like to be in Mumbai, though not in the rains. I believe Mumbai should have rains. But we don't know how to cope with it. We don't have a civic sense. We Mumbaikars have it in us to be an international city. When I travel abroad I wonder why we can't be like the other big cities of the world.

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I don't want to be 'Size 0' anymore: Kareena

In her next release Kambhakt Ishq Kareena plays a surgeon who moonlights as a super-model. A surgeon who's a super-model? Sounds like a deadly combination. "Yeah my character flies to Italy to become a super-model to support herself financially. I didn't want to play the character looking like an international model because she's basically in another profession. So she can't really have the figure of Victoria Beckham, can she? I had to look more filled up. Again, for my next release Mr & Mrs Khanna with Salman I play a wife. So I wanted to look more filled up. Not that wives can't be curvaceous. The one I played in Golmaal Returns certainly was." For her forthcoming films Size 0 is out. No more international anorexic looks for her. Kareena Kapoor is down to a healthy normal desi girl's model-like figure. Reason? "My forthcoming releases required me to get back to a fuller shape. Now Kareena has decided to hold steady with her new weight. "I weigh 54 kgs now, which for a girl my height is quite fine. People used to wonder what 'Size 0' is and I'd joke, 'Just look at me'. I don't want that anymore. I want to look like a nice normal healthy girl."

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Nandana Sen is a topless wonder!

Nandana Sen is a bold chick. Her fans are in for a pleasant surprise as she has indulged in full frontal nudity (well, almost) in the movie. Her fans are in for a pleasant surprise actually, thanks to her bold ways. The lady will reportedly be seen fully naked from her waist above in her much talked about Ketan Mehta flick 'Rang Rasiya'. Well, initially people thought that the Censor Board would cut the scene but now the buzz is that Nandana Sen's assets will be witnessed by all and sundry. Nandana has reportedly said, "I'm not surprised by the decision at all. That scene forms the very core of the film. 'Rang Rasiya' is itself about censorship of art. The political message as well as the emotional drama in our film revolves entirely around that particular scene, making it absolutely essential to the narrative." She's added, "Everyone who has seen the film has commented to us about how the scene complements the film, so why would the censor board think any differently?"

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Rab Ne Bana De Jodi sweeps the nation

Yash Raj Films reeling under the impact of a series of setbacks in 2007-2008 is all set to make a grand comeback with his latest big-time release Rab Ne Bana De Jodi.

In spite of the terror attacks two weeks ago and the downward curve in Yash Raj's recent image, the film had a massive opening which is expected to get better over the weekend and past it.

Roshan Singh a leading exhibitor of Bihar sums up the unexpected euphoria surrounding the latest Shah Rukh Khan starrer. "It's opened to full houses, the best opening I've had for a Yash Raj Film in the last two years. I should know, because my theatre screens all the Yash Raj films in Patna. People love the film. Nobody expected Rab Ne... to be such a sweet love story. Shah Rukh as an ordinary small- town guy proves he is truly the king. And the new girl Anushka is a revelation."

What's working for Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is the working-class ambience.The film delineates the dreams and aspirations of ordinary people.

"And the whole idea of putting the couple into a dance reality-show is a stroke of genius. Audiences immediately identify and connect with this new medium of getting famous overnight," says Roshan Singh.

In Mumbai, the responses on Friday ranged from exceptional to very very good. Said the Singh Is Kinng producer Vipul Shah, "I'm not surprised by the warm welcome that the film has got. After 26/11 Mumbai needed a feel good film. And the Shah Rukh-Aditya Chopra combination after eight years....Their last film together was Mohabbatein. I was really looking forward to the film. We don't get a film from the team that gave us Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge that easily."

With the heartening opening of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi the industry reeling under the twin impact of a recession and 26/11 can breathe easy.

The best reaction to the film's opening came from film's director Aditya Chopra and leading man Shah Rukh Khan's best friend Karan Johar in New York. "Rab Ne Bana Di will prove once and for all that the Adi-Shah Rukh jodi is god sent."

Don't 'Rab' that combo the wrong way.

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Thumbs up to Shah Rukh's 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi'

A cinema hall here resonated with the sound of applause as soon as superstar Shah Rukh Khan made his entry in 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi'. It continued, reaching a crescendo towards the end of the film.

The film is a hit, the audience and members of the film fraternity say.

'It is a super duper hit', 'Shah Rukh looks so good', 'The songs are great' were just a few of the reactions of those who managed to see the first show of the film Friday.

Retired Major-General Jasbir Lacshar and his wife Triptinder watched the film and both of them felt it is a 'very clean movie'.

'You can go and watch it with your family. The movie is too good. I think it is exceptionally well-made. The overall packaging of the movie is also excellent,' Jasbir Lacshar said.

Set in Amritsar, 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' is the story of a mismatched couple played by Shah Rukh and newcomer Anushka Sharma and how the two of them find love in the backdrop of a dance competition.

The film is Shah Rukh's first release of the year. Apart from this, it is the first Shah Rukh Khan-Aditya Chopra film in over eight years. They had last collaborated for 'Mohabbatein' in 2000.

'Rab Ne?' saw a massive opening despite the recent Mumbai terror attack and the business for the film is expected to get better over the weekend.

Roshan Singh, a leading exhibitor in Bihar, told IANS: 'The film has opened to full houses in the cities, the best opening we have had for a Yash Raj Film in the last two years. People have loved the film. Nobody expected 'Rab Ne?' to be such a sweet love story.'

According to Singh, what's working best for the film is the very fact that it is about an ordinary man.

'The film delineates the dreams and aspirations of ordinary people. And the whole idea of putting the couple into a dance reality show is a stroke of genius. Audiences immediately identify and connect with this new medium of getting famous overnight,' he explained.

People from all walks of life have loved the film.

'This is a super duper hit movie and Shah Rukh Khan has proved that he is the real King,' said 22-year-old Gurmeet Singh, a college student.

For Lalita Tripathi, 20, the film was completely 'paisa-vasool' (worthwhile). 'For a change, Shah Rukh has not overacted and he looks very good,' she said.

The response to newcomer model-turned-actor Anushka Sharma is also positive.

While exhibitor Roshan Singh said she is a 'revelation', Neeraj Chauhan, a film buff, felt she has acted very well.

'The way she has danced, it seems as though she is a thorough professional,' said Chauhan.

Filmmaker Vipul Shah of 'Singh Is Kinng' fame says he is not surprised by the warm welcome to the film, as 'after 26/11, Mumbai needed a feel-good film'.

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Vidya: Mean with men and machines!

Vids could well drive the boys crazy with her dusky beauty and sex-appeal (so what if she’s nowhere close to size zero, our desi men like all
kinds, no?).

But ask her to really drive, we mean drive a four-wheeler mean machine, and the gal pushes the panic button. The lovely Vids fears driving more than anything else. Apparently many years ago, while she was at the wheel, she crashed into a truck and narrowly escaped disaster. And for years nothing could bring her out of her ‘drive-o-phobia’; Vidya Balan would rather sit on KJo’s hot-seat everyday, than take charge of some swanky hot wheels. Such was her fear. Until now, of course. For her movie, Ishqiya, a scene demanded that she had to be on the driver’s seat; and no, she wasn’t allowed to ghumao the audiences with a body-double.

So Ms. V was left with no choice but to step on the gas
. Well, the director, Abhishek Chaubey, and the unit were very supportive. They had a van parked outside the sets throughout, so between her shots she could practice driving. Now the other question is — who will risk their life with her? Will it be Arshad? Or Naseer? Yep, they’re supposed to be in the car with this dangerously beautiful diva as she vrooms around town. Goodluck to the brave men, this is sure gonna be one helluva ride. As for Vids, we gotto tell you this babe, you’ve to be fast ‘n furious with both men and machines. Unless you know that already, of course.

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Shilpa has to prove herself!

If Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan and Karan Johar can do it, why not Shilpa Shetty?

Indeed, but the Bollywood hottie who’s the latest to join the net savvy brigade dislikes the word ‘blog’... instead, she’s making changes to her official website and calling it ‘Shilpa’s Channel’. It launches today. “I wanted a channel to vent my anger against what’s happened to my city,” said the actress. “In fact, I should have started this when the Richard Gere controversy erupted and people burned effigies of me, then I could have also expressed my opinion.”

Besides clearing controversies, what prompted Shilpa to revamp her website was the necessity to make herself available to fans and also the world media which was trying to reach her after 26/11. “I was woken up by a call from a London news channel asking me about the attack. That’s when I switched on the TV and watched all the horror unfold,” said the actress. She had a providential escape as well because she was to dine at Wasabi in Taj the night before. “I’m a regular there and have chopsticks engraved with my name. I cancelled because I had a shoot early next morning. I shudder to think what might have happened,” said Shilpa.

Post 26/11, she had a tough time convincing UK businessman boyfriend Raj Kundra that she was safe in Mumbai. “He’s a British-born Indian and for him the situation couldn’t get worse than this. But I love Mumbai and I couldn’t think of leaving the city and Raj knows it,” revealed Shilpa. Far from running away, she wants to stay and make change. “It’s shameful to say I’ve never voted before, but now I’m ready to cast my vote. The procedure of getting a voter’s card should be changed. Imagine, they asked me to prove that I was Shilpa Shetty!”

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Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi - Movie Review

Well, to start off with, Aditya Chopra spells yet another poignant dimension of pure love as in his previous ventures with SRK; DDLJ and Mohabattein. Yeah! These tales were retentive impressing everyone from 8-80yrs old men and women. Of course, we fell in love getting imbibed with those spellbinding personations in these flicks. So, guess what about Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi – a film that brings back sensational pair SRK-Aditya together after 8yrs? Does the film exceed everyone's expectations on 'Love' n 'Entertainment' factors? Or merely conks out dashing down our hopes?

Hats off to Aditya Chopra! An awesome motif of delineating a touching story of romance...

Have you ever stopped to think if the most ordinary, uninteresting, unobtrusive man you might see on the road or around you might have a love story to tell?

Maybe not! How can an ordinary man have a breathtaking, goose flesh igniting, awe inspiring love story of all things to tell?

But guess what - love does not differentiate between the ordinary and exceptional, the uninteresting and interesting, the unattractive and attractive. Because love knows no distinction. It can happen to anyone and once it does it engulfs us into it completely and gives us those heaven-sent experiences that only love can yield.

Perhaps, everything in fine and good with the one-liner…. But Aditya Chopra fails in crafting a gripping narration all throughout the show. A flimsy screenplay lacking finesse with bits and pieces of discontinuities and these attributes easily scatters audiences' attention. The best illustration goes with SRK's ducky actresses shaking legs with him for 'Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte' on theatre screen. It's completely odd for that situation and possibly, the sequences could've been switched over to latter half as a 'special round in Dance show'. Was it an attempt to deliver a replica of 'Om Shanthi Om' song of film stars dancing together?

The film is about Surinder Sahni (Shahrukh Khan) - a simple, clean hearted, honest man working for Punjab Power, leading a humdrum life, when he meets his total opposite and finds love in the flamboyant, fun-loving, vivacious -Taani (Anushka Sharma) for whom the whole world is her canvas and she paints her own life with the colours of rainbow all until unforeseen circumstances changes it all and brings them together. Sooner, its biggest dance show in Amritsar and Surinder coiffes himself as Raj what he calls 'Macho Chap'… He does it all to impress his girl Taani and what's next?

It's a journey filled with laughter, tears, joy, pain, music, dance and a lot of love. A journey that makes us believe that there is an extraordinary love story in every ordinary jodi.

The first half dawdles with sluggish narration until earlier minutes to pre-interval where SRK's soliloquy with statue takes on emotional quotients. Well, the latter half comprises of few enjoyable moments like Anushka racing on her bike with 'Dhoom Machale' on BCM and next ultimate shot of Vinay Pathak-SRK at garage.

It's a crème de la crème performance by Shah Rukh Khan as he emotes resplendently on all situations. Be it his make-over sequences adjusting his tight jeans in dance class or the performance in penultimate minutes, King Khan is awe-inspiring. A flawless performance by debutant Anushka Sharma and of course she eclipses Shah Rukh on many parts. What to say about Vinay Pathak? He's over-the-top and more emblazons to the screen. He strides sparkling smiles on our lips with his wiggeries and soaks our eyes as he gets emotional. Don't miss the great dance of SRK-Vinay for the original tune of 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi'. Its emotional outbursts from every characterization that turns entire spotlights on RNBDJ…

Aditya's innovative thought is laudable on certain parts like Shah Rukh laying rose next to food and again placing it vase, pictorial of Anushka's face for the song 'Tuj Mei Rab Diktha Hai' and entire Amritsar being lit up, 'I Love You' deserves grand round of applause. Fine! Young lads and missies would hail with praise worthy comments for Adhi's ideation. Both SRK and Anushka swallowing Pani Purees followed by abrupt sequence where he has to finish of delicious Biriyani are evokes laughter.

Nevertheless, the biggest flaw is that how come a woman fails to recognize her husband with a slight-make over…. The characters of Surindar and Raj differ merely with thin moustache, hair style and costumes. Both the characters have same voice sans any modulations….

What barricaded Aditya's cognizance while dropping these lines on his paper? Indeed, it's a billion dollar question.

Ravi K Chandran's cinematography enhances visual quality and his placement of creative angles deserves special attention. The duo Salim-Sulaiman seems to have not percolated a lot for background scoring. It's again the pieces of existing numbers in album tuned and they sway on all songs.

Possibly, 'Haule Haule' and 'Dance Pe' peaked with high-promos prior to release. For sure, both the versions of 'Tuj Mei Rab Dikta Hai' capture your senses with beauteous visualizing. 'Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte' fails to make it big despites grand set decorations, costumes and top-charting actresses with SRK. Ritesh Soni's editing especially on 'Dancing Jodi' at the climax is mind blowing... Choreography by Vaibhavi and Shiamak are sumptuously ne plus ultra…

On the whole, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is enjoyable on many parts with fun, frolic, lots of music and dance, pains and emotions.

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